1990-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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E -M to our mutual problem, since the Commonwealth hag tarninated oysters conducted in the spring time resulted strongly indicated it would be more favorably inclined in 22 happy oyster-permit holders over the Thanksgiv- to not only permit such a regional plant, but also reim- ing and Christmas holidays. The propagation program burse the communities involved to the maximum extent also resulted in one of the most productive years in re- possible. cent memory. One hundred and sixty thousand juvenile quahogs were raised in protective trays over the summer In conclusion, on behalf of myself, John T. Doherty, season. Good growth and excellent survival resulted in CO-Chairman, and George R. Costa, Clerk, we wish to these animals being "broadcast" planted into favorable thank you, the citizens of Mashpee, for your continued habitat areas in both bays.A transplant of contaminated support. quahogs of mixed sizes resulted in 400 bushes (approx- imately 34,000 pounds) of stock being planted in two Respectfully submitted, primarily-recreational harvesting areas. It is anticipated that the DMIT will test and release these shellfish for Stephen J. Greelish harvesting in the late spring/early summer of 1991. This Chairman will provide some productive shellfishing for permit holders; as well as introducing an increased amount of brood stock into the two bays that should increase natural Report of the spawning and replenishment. Shellfish Commission Proper management and a commitment by the townspeople to maintaining and encouraging a high level of concern for our marine resources will help to assure To Honorable Selectmen this historical and cultural aspect of our town will be and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: around to be enjoyed by present and future generations. The Mashpee Shellfish Commission respectfully sub- The Shellfish Commission wishes to thank the citizens mits the following 1990 Annual Report to the citizens of of the town for their support. We also wish to thank the the Town of Mashpee: various town boards, commissions and employees for their support and assistance. 1990 was a busy and productive year for the Shellfish Department and the Commission. The various duties and Finally, the Commission wishes to welcome aboard responsibilities involved in managing and protecting the alternate member Steve Cadrin who recently moved to shellfish and marine resources of the town kept the Com- Mashpee and brings with him a wealth of educational and mission and Shellfish Constable jumping throughout the practical experiences in marine resource management that year. In addition to the regular duties of resource evalua- will make him an extremely important asset to the tion,protection and propagation, Mr. Somerville assisted Commission. the MA Division of Marine Fisheries in conducting a Permits issues: Sanitary Shoreline Survey for the second year in a row. This came at a particularly opportune time as the area being surveyed, the upper half of Popponesset Bay, was Non-Commercial 363 closed to all shellfishing activities by the DMF due to high Resident/Taxpayer 21 coliform bacteria counts that exceeded the maximum Non-Resident/MA Taxpayer 240 limits established by the Federal Food and Drug Ad- Senior Citizens 240 ministration. As we proceed into the New Year the area Resident Oyster 22 remains closed. Extensive data collection , water sampl- Commercial 14 ing,shoreline examinations and overall area observations will continue through the winter and into the year in an Violation Warnings 35 effort to narrow down the exact cause or causes that result Propagation Program: in this situation. The complexitites of the physical, Contaminated Quahogs Relayed. for biological and chemical elements that combine to make Purification 34,000 pounds up the delicate ecology of our estuarine environments do not readily give us the answer to this disturbing problem. Seed Quahogs Planted 160,000 -4 millimeter size Contaminated Oysters Relayed for The closure of this part of the bay has both direct and Purification 100 bags indirect consequences on the resources found in other areas of town. Most notably, harvesting pressures increas- Happy Harvesting! ed on soft-shell clam and quahog stocks in concentrated areas. The result was an overall decline in the catch of Vernon Thomas both species. Chairman More favorable harvests were realized in the scallop Of oyster stocks. While still present in numbers well below the historical and desirable levels,the harvest of scallops in Waquoit Bay was able to be measured in days rather than hours as in the past few years. A relay of con- 93